Controls on the standing crop of benthic foraminifera at an oceanic scale

Abstract

At present, there is very little basin-scale information on patterns of standing crop in marine organisms or their structuring forces. Understanding modern patterns and controls on foraminifera is particularly critical because of their abundance and importance in benthic systems, as well as their role as palaeoceanographic proxies. Here, we examine for the first time basin-scale patterns and predictors of benthic foraminiferal standing crop from the shelf to abyssal deep sea in the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas using a large database of 967 quantitative samples. Spatial regression analyses reveal that the flux of particulate organic matter is a major control on standing crop size across all depths investigated, with increasing food supply increasing fora mi ni feral standing crops. Other factors also play a role. Dissolved oxygen is significant at slope depths and negatively related to standing crop. Temperature and possibly salinity are locally significant factors in the abyss. This study demonstrates that productivity is important in describing foraminiferal standing crop at the basin scale, supporting its use as a palaeoceanographic proxy, but also demonstrates that other environmental variables are also likely important in controlling the standing crop and should be considered in reconstruction of Earth's past marine environment.

Towards better correlation of the Central Paratethys regional time scale with the standard geological time scale of the Miocene Epoch

“…Later, definitions of regional stages have begun to prefer biostratigraphic criteria (Piller et al 2007). However, first appearances of marine organisms in isolated basins tend to be affected by significant delays relative to their first appearance GEOLOGICA CARPATHICA, 2018, 69, 3, 283-300 in open ocean environments owing to geographical and environmental constraints (e.g., Kennett et al 1985;Holcová et al 2015;Jones & Murray 2017;Sant et al, 2017a). Therefore, the accuracy of correlations of stage boundaries based on palaeontological criteria in type sections, without any geochronological verification and without understanding of temporal changes in biogeographic distribution of index species, is unclear.…”

“…The geodynamic development of the Alpine-Carpathian-Dinaride oro genic systems determined the distribution and extent of terrestrial and marine environments and significantly shaped the sequence architecture, palaeoclimate, and water masses circulation regime of the CP (e.g., Kováč et al 2004Kováč et al , 2017aGrunert et al 2010Grunert et al , 2014ter Borgh et al 2013;Palcu et al 2015). Intensity of marine currents and oceanic circulation patterns strongly impacts biogeographic distribution of plankton and benthos (e.g., Kennett et al 1985;Peters et al 2013;Holcová et al 2015;Jones & Murray 2017;Kováč et al 2017a;Sant et al, 2017a). The timing of faunal appearances thus principally depends on the opening of gateways towards the Mediterranean, or Eastern Paratethys as it is documented from the (sub)recent Mediterranean or Black Sea (e.g., Kouwenhoven & van der Zwaan 2006;Karami et al 2011;Palcu et al 2015;Kováč et al 2017a;Sant et al 2017b).…”